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Fire leaves family of four homeless

Fire leveled a West Chatham County home Tuesday, killing a dog and leaving a family of four homeless.

At least 28 firefighters battled the flames at 325 Buckhalter Road, but that was not enough to save the home, said Southside Fire/EMS Assistant Chief Hugh Futrell.

By the time firefighters were called to the home at 11:55 a.m., flames already were leaping through the roof, Futrell said.

No one was inside at the time of the fire. Neighbors told firefighters they smelled smoke earlier, but they didn't call 911 until they saw the fire.

"It had a pretty good head start. We got there and found flames through the roof. Half of the roof had already fallen through, and the interior was burning," Futrell said. "Obviously, it had been burning for a while."

The family had constructed a brick foundation under their mobile home, and the fire ripped through the structure quickly.

"It's still a mobile home, and unfortunately it burns very fast," Futrell said. "The brick held the heat in and allowed it to spread throughout the structure. It was total loss when we got there."

The flames grew so intense at times, firefighters took turns dousing the flames in an attempt to stop it from spreading.

One firefighter was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.

Southside called in an extra tanker truck from Garden City to deliver 5,000 gallons of water.

Although no one was home at the time, the family did suffer the loss of their dog, Futrell said.

Firefighters remained at the site until about 4:30 p.m., putting out hot spots. No neighboring damage was reported.

Firefighters are investigating the fire, but they said it appears to be accidental and may have started in a bedroom.

The Red Cross is assisting the couple and their two children, ages 4 and 8.

"They essentially lost everything and need help," Futrell said.

4th toddler in two weeks found alone in street

A 2-year-old boy was found alone Monday morning in the middle of Wheaton Street in front of Blackshear Homes.

The boy was not wearing shoes, and his parents could not be located, according to a Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police report.

A resident of the public-housing neighborhood called police around 9:20 a.m. after she was unable to find the toddler's parents.

Police took the toddler to the Housing Authority of Savannah office. They also summoned the Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services.

About 30 minutes later, the toddler's father, who told officers he was taking other children to school, arrived at the Housing Authority. The child's mother showed up about an hour and a half later, police said.

The toddler was not injured. The case is under investigation by DFCS.

Last week, police referred at least four child-neglect cases to DFCS.

They include: two toddlers, ages 2 and 3, found in their pajamas wandering around Forsyth Drive, and a 2-year-old wandering around the 1700 block of Kings Way wearing nothing but a soiled diaper. All of the children's parents could not be immediately found, according to police reports.

Police also responded to an infant abandoned last week at an acquaintance's home in East Savannah.

No arrests have been made in any of the cases.

However, police did send Takiel Moody, 27, to jail last week on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after she left her 6-year-old nephew alone in an unlocked car while she shopped in Wal-Mart on Whitemarsh Island, according to a police report. The boy, who was wearing only underwear, was not hurt.

Kris Rice, director of the Coastal Children's Advocacy Center, said she was not familiar with the cases other than what she has read in the newspaper.

Dead dog found chained to Savannah home

Animal Control officers are searching for the owner of two dogs that were left chained for a week outdoors with no food or water.

Officers recovered a dead dog and rescued another severely malnourished dog Monday night from a home in the 800 block of East 33rd Street, according to a Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police report.

A neighbor called police around 5:20 p.m. after the residents were gone for a week, leaving the dogs unattended. The woman called the pets' owner, who said she fed them about a week ago, the report states.

Police found a bulldog-mix dead under the porch steps, said Lt. Brenda Boulware, commander of the Animal Control Unit. The dog was still chained to the porch.

A brindle and white mix dog was found in the lane, chained to the house. The dog was alive but severely malnourished, Boulware said.

"It's about 10 pounds," she said. "It's supposed to be a large dog, but it's a skeleton."

The dog was treated by a veterinarian Monday night and was recovering Tuesday at the shelter, Boulware said. Animal Control officers believe the dog will survive. The dog will be up for adoption once it gains weight.

Police are searching for the owner and said they plan to file charges.

"It's totally disgusting. This is definitely animal cruelty," Boulware said. "We'll definitely pursue this case with much vigor. We have a lead and are investigating."

Both of the dogs were tethered, which is prohibited in Chatham County. However, it is not illegal to chain dogs inside the city limits, Boulware said.

"We're waiting for the City Council to adopt the same ordinance," she said.

Bike rider hospitalized after darting into traffic

A Myers Middle School student was sent to the hospital Tuesday after she darted into oncoming traffic, police said.

The girl was riding her bicycle shortly after 3 p.m. when she cut across LaRoche Avenue at Skidaway Road, according to Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police.

The girl was struck by a car and suffered minor injuries, police spokesman Anthony Fulton said.